Begusarai

Begusarai is the industrial and financial capital of Bihar and the administrative headquarters of the Begusarai district, which is one of the 38 districts of the Indian state of Bihar. The district lies on the northern bank of the river Ganges in the Mithila region of India.

Etymology

Begusarai was named after Begu, a man who was the devotee of Bari Durga Maharani and was the caretaker of Sarai, the town's old market.

Geography

Topography

Begusarai is located at . It has an average elevation of 41 metres (134 feet). Begusarai lies in North Bihar and is surrounded by Khagaria in the northeast, Munger in the southeast, Patna in the west, and Samastipur in the northwest.

Begusarai lies in the middle of the mid-Ganga plain and generally has low-lying terrain with a south to south-easterly slope.The Subsurface Geology of the Indo-Gangetic plains M.B.R Rao, 1973, no:-3, vol-14, Journal of the Geological Society of India, pp-217-242. Begusarai is basically divided into three floodplains: the Ganga floodplain, Burhi Gandak floodplain, Kareha-Bagmati floodplain.

Flora and fauna

In 1989, Begusarai district became home to the Kanwar jheel'','' or Kanwar Lake Bird Sanctuary, with an area of .

Demographics

As per the 2011 census, Begusarai Municipal Corporation had a total population of 251,136, of whom 133,931 were male and 117,205 were female with a sex ratio of 875. The number of people under five years of age was 37,966. The literacy rate of people seven years and up was 79.35%.

Religion

Hinduism is the major religion in Begusarai city, with 224,282 followers (89%). Islam is second, with 26,531 Muslims (10.53%). Other religions include 325 Christians (0.13%), 134 Sikhs (0.05%), 31 Jains (0.01%), 29 Buddhists (0.01%), 14 other religions (0.01%), and 662 (0.26%) that did not answer.

Government and politics

Begusarai has traditionally been a communist stronghold and was once referred to as the "Leningrad of Bihar". It is the location of the independence movement veteran, first chief minister, and one of the architects of modern Bihar, Shri Krishna Sinha.

Economy

Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy. The main crops of the Begusarai district are oilseeds, anise seeds, tobacco, jutes, potatoes, red chilis, tomatoes, and rape-seeds. In fruits, Begusarai has recently become a major contributor in producing litchi, mango, guava, and banana. Basil leaves and pearl farming are also present in the local area.

Even today, only the Barauni refinery contributes around Rs 500 crore () to the state exchequer yearly. Begusarai also has an inactive airport in Begusarai Ulao. Begusarai had the second highest per capita income in the financial year of 2019–2020 in Bihar, after Patna.

Culture

The culture of Begusarai is the cultural heritage of Mithila. Begusarai is famous for Simaria, a fair of devotional significance every year usually during November in the month of Kartik, according to the Indian Panchang. Men and women in Begusarai dress for the festivals; the costumes of Begusarai stem from the traditional culture of Mithila. Panjabi Kurta and Dhoti have a Mithila Painting bordered maroon coloured Gamchha, the Symbol of Passion, Love, Bravery, and Courage, are common clothing items for men. Men wear gold ring in their nose, which symbolizes prosperity, happiness, and wealth following Vishnu. They also wear Balla on their wrist. In ancient times, there was no colour option in Mithila, so the Maithil women wore white or yellow sari with a red border. Today, they wear ''Laal-Paara'' (the traditional red-boarded white or yellow sari) on some special occasions, as well as ''Shakha-Pola'', with lahthi in their hand. In Mithila culture, this represents new beginnings, passion and prosperity.Red also represents the Hindu goddess Durga, a symbol of new beginnings and feminine power. During Chhaith, the women of Begusarai wear pure cotton dhoti without stitching which reflects the pure, traditional culture of Mithila. Usually crafted from pure cotton for daily use and from pure silk for more glamorous occasions, traditional attire for women of Begusarai includes Jamdani, Banorisi, and Bhagalpuri, among others. Many festivals are celebrated throughout the year in Begusarai, including Chhaith and Durga Puja.

Dance

Dhuno-Naach is the dance of Begusarai, Mithila. Dhuno-Naach is performed in Begusarai, Samastipur, Khagaria, Katihar, and Naugachhia during Durga Puja, and Kalipuja with sounds from Shankha-Dhaak and Jhijhiya is performed in Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Madhubani and their neighbour districts.

Painting

In Mithila, painting is a form of wall art and is practiced widely in Begusarai. The artform originated among the villages in Begusarai, Darbhanga, Naugachia, and Madhubani, while more contemporary paintings known as ''Begusarai art'', ''Maduhubani art'', ''Darbhnga art'', and ''Naugachia art'' are on paper and canvas.

Main festivals

Here is a list of the main festivals of Begusarai:
* Chhaith: Prayers during Chhath puja are dedicated to the solar deity, Surya and her Sister Ranbay Maay(Chhathi Maiya), to show gratitude and thankfulness
* Saama-Chakeba: includes folk theater and song, celebrates the love between brothers and sisters and is based on a legend recounted in the Puranas.
* Aghaniya Chhaith (Chhotka Pabni): Very popular with the name of "Chhotka-Pabni" and Dopaharka Aragh in Mithila. Celebrated in Aghan Shukla-paksha Shasthi tithi.
* Baisakkha Chhaith (Chhotka Pabni): This is celebrated in month of Baishakh Shukla-paksha Shasthi tithi and It is also called Chhotka-Pabni(Dopaharka Aragh) in Mithila.
* Chaurchan: Along with Lord Ganesha, Lord Vishnu, Goddess Parvati and the moon god is worshipped. The story of Chorchan Puja is also heard on this day after that arghya is offered to the moon god ( Chandra Deva).
* Jitiya: celebrated mainly in Indian states of Bihar, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh and Nepal; mothers fast (without water) for wellbeing of their children.
* Vivaha Panchami: Hindu festival celebrating the wedding of Rama and Sita. It is observed on the fifth day of the Shukla paksha or waxing phase of moon in the Agrahayana month (November–December) as per Maithili calendar and in the month of Margashirsha in the Hindu calendar.
* Sita Navami
* Ganga Dussehra: Hindu festival celebrated by Maithils in Mokshdhaam Simaria Dhaam (The Welcome Gate of Mithila). ''avatarana'' (descent) of the Ganges. It is believed by Hindus that the holy river Ganges descended from heaven to earth on this day.
* Kalpwas: Celebrated in Every Kartik Month in Simaria Dhaam, Begusarai.
* Lachhmi Puja: In Mithila, the night is known as Kojagari Purnima also called Lachhmi Puja. Kojagari translates to 'one who is awake' in Maithili. It is believed that Goddess Lachhmi visits people's houses on this night, checks whether they are staying awake, and blesses them only if they are awake. It is Harvest festival marking the end of monsoon season in Mithila.
* Pahun Shashthi
* Khutti Puja (Ritual of Durga Puja)
* Mohalaya: Mohalaya which is celebrated in all over Mithila on Aashin Maash Amavasya tithi, sculptors, who have been working for days carving and chiseling the statue of Durga, carry out their final touch of drawing the eyes of Durga Maay in Begusarai and other Mithila Districts.
*Durga Puja: a ten-day festival, of which the last five are of the most significance. is an important festival in the Shaktism tradition of Hinduism. It marks the victory of goddess Durga in her battle against the shape-shifting asura, Mahishasura. Thus, the festival epitomizes the victory of good over evil, though it is also in part a harvest festival celebrating the goddess as the motherly power behind all of life and creation.
* Kali Puja: dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali, celebrated on the new moon day Dipannita Amavasya of the Hindu month Kartik
* Saraswati Puja: marks the preparation for the arrival of spring. The festival is celebrated by people of Dharmic religions in the South Asian countries in different ways depending on the region. Vasant Panchami also marks the start of preparation for Holika and Holi, which take place forty days later.Christian Roy (2005). Traditional Festivals: A Multicultural Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. pp. 192–193. .
* Aakhar Bochhor(Maithil New year): Maithil New year celebrated on 15 April every year.
* Rama Navami: celebrates the descent of Vishnu as the Rama avatar, through his birth to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya in Ayodhya, Kosala.Hindus around the world celebrate Ram Navami today
DNA, 8 April 2014
* Basanti Puja (Chaiti Durga Puja)
* Til Sakraait
* Naag Panchami
* Barsaait
* Vishwakarma Puja
* Holi

Notable people

* Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, poet, freedom fighter, essayist.
* Kranti Prakash Jha, actor, model
* Sriti Jha, actress
* Kanhaiya Kumar, politician
* Ram Sharan Sharma, historian
* Balmiki Prasad Singh, writer, former IAS officer, former Governor of Sikkim
* Bhola Singh, politician

See also

* Mithila (proposed Indian state)
* Simaria
* Mithila State Movement

Notes

References

Works cited

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External links

District website of Begusarai

{{Settlements in Begusarai district

Cities and towns in Begusarai district
Caravanserais in India